Laminate Buyer’s Checklist

Laminate flooring is a practical choice for active households. Choosing laminate flooring for your home is a major decision. Actually, it’s a series of several decisions. There are so many types and styles of laminate and so many other aspects to consider, the task can be daunting. Although not exhaustive, this checklist will walk you step by step through the main considerations that will ultimately help lead you to the perfect laminate flooring for your home.

Your home

When choosing flooring, discuss the following considerations with one of our specialists so he or she can help steer you to the best product for your particular home.

Consider who spends time in your home. Don’t forget to include visitors and pets. Since your flooring will likely be down for several years, you may want to consider future children or pets as well.

Taking into account your lifestyle and the daily use of your floors, rank the importance of laminate’s scratch resistance, durability and cleanability.

CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN

Determine the type of laminate flooring that will perform best in your home. Thicker laminate adds stability and reduces noise. And higher AC ratings equate to greater durability.

Determine what type of underlayment will perform best in your home. Better underlayment provides more sound absorption and hides more subfloor imperfections. Some laminate flooring comes with the underlayment attached.

To ensure product quality, shop for a NALFA certified products.

Identify your decorating style and gather samples of existing paint, fabrics and adjacent flooring. Also take photos of existing furniture and cabinets

Familiarize yourself with the different laminate finishes. Different texture options combine with the visuals to create realistic looks.

SHOP SMART

Measure your space to estimate your square footage. Multiply length times width of each room to equal square footage. To account for waste, add 10% to the total (multiply by 1.10) for a good working estimate.

Consider the type of shopping experience you want and then look for a retailer near you. Many stores sell flooring, but independent retailers are flooring experts with an emphasis on customer service.

Before you purchase, read all warranty information carefully to fully understand any requirements.

INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE

Although installing laminate can be a DIY project, talk to your retailer about the benefits of choosing a professional installer. Quality installation can affect the success of your laminate floor.

Prepare your home for installation. Move everything out of the room(s) and clear a generous path to the room(s), removing all breakables. Ensure subfloors are clean and free of debris.

Laminate flooring should be delivered two days ahead of installation to the room(s) where it will be installed for proper acclimation.

Read the manufacturer’s literature to learn about proper care and maintenance for your new laminate. Most dissatisfaction with laminate flooring results from improper cleaning practices. Improper cleaning may also void the warranty.